Dental x-ray film holder

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for developing individual dental X-ray film consisting of a small processing tank and a holder for a plurality of individual films. The holder includes an elongated member which is H-shaped in transverse section and has a plurality of pairs of inwardly curved indentations formed in marginal portions of two sides thereof. The indentations coincide with the longitudinal edges of the oppositely facing legs of the H. The individual films are arranged transversely of the elongated member and extend laterally beyond the two other sides of the member.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Jack B. Buck 2,533,101 12/1950 Ghrist 95/100 1800 South University Drive, Fort Worth, FOREIGN PATENTS Tex. pp No. 800,976 27,371 4./1955 Finland 95/100 [22] Filed Feb. 20, 1969 Primary Exammer-Sanuel S. Matthews [45 Patented May 25, 1971 Assistant Examiner-Fred L. Braun Attorney-J. Bruce Synnott, Jr. [54] DENTAL X-RAY FILM HOLDER 1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figs. I

U.S. 100, Apparatus for develgping dental X- 269/46 ray film consisting of a small processing tank and a holder for Illa lurality of The holder includes an 101 [50] Field of Search 95/90, 100; gated member which i H Shaped in transverse section and has 269/46 a plurality of pairs of inwardly curved indentations formed in 56 R f Cited marginal portions of two sides thereof. The indentations coinl e erences cide with the longitudinal edges of the oppositely facing legs of UNITED STATES PATENTS the H. The individual films are arranged transversely of the 1,792,005 2/1931 Elloitt 95/ 100 elongated member and extend laterally beyond the two other 2,181,206 1 H1939 Rinn 95/100 sides of the member.

This invention relates to a dental X-ray film holder, and it concerns more particularly a holder for individual dental X- ray films which have been exposed, for convenience in handling the films while developing them, as in a dark room, in a process in which the films are successively immersed in a developing fluid, washed in clear water, and thereafter immersed in a fixative.

Apparatus for developing individual dental X-ray films as described commonly includes, in combination with a small tank, characterized by its narrow width relative to the dimensions of the films and relative to the length and depth of *the tank, adapted to contain a body of developing 'fluid, or alternatively, afixative, a holder for a plurality of "individual :films comprising an elongated member having a length approaching the'depth of the tank, and which in one of its operative positions is disposed vertically in the tank whereby the holder,-and

the films arranged thereon, areadapted to be immersed in the fluid contained in the tank.

This invention concerns an improved film holder as described having film receptacles arranged in pairs along two opposite sides thereof, for engagement by individual films, respectively, whereby the films are arranged transversely of the holder, in bowed positions thereof, and are secured against displacement from the holder by their inherent springtension.

The holder further includes means extending laterally outwardly from two other sides of the holder, beyond two opposite sides of the tank, in the above mentioned operative position of the holder, for overlying engagement with the upper edge of the tank, whereby the holder is adapted to be suspended at its upper end from the upper edge o'fthe tank.

The improved film holder of the invention has a plurality of inwardly curved indentations in two opposite sides thereof for overlying engagement, respectively, by individual films arranged transversely of the holder, in bowed positions of the films.

Each of the inwardly curved indentations terminates at its ends in oppositely facing integral hooks or abutments for opposing engagement with the adjacentout'erdges of the corresponding film, whereby the film is secured against displacement fromthe holder by its inherent spring tension.

In use the film is held extended across the arched, concave surface of the holder coinciding with one of the inwardly curved indentations above mentioned by its inherent spring tension only. The film does not touch the arched, concave surface of the holder.

The space between the film and the arched, concave surface of the holder provides adequate ventilation for drying thefilm and thus prevents residual water marks from forming.

The holder is generally H-shaped in'transverse section for a major portion of its length, and the inwardly curved indentations above mentioned are formed in marginal portionsof two opposite sides of the holder which coincide with the'legs ofthe H The holder-has a generally T-shaped upper end portion extending laterally outwardly beyond two other sides-thereoffor overlying engagement with the upper edge of the-tank, on two opposite sides thereof, whereby thef'holder straddles the tank and is adapted to be suspended in the tank from its=upper end.

The inwardly curved indentations provided for'engagement by the individual films, as described, are arranged in pairs, back to back, along the first mentioned two opposite sides of the holder, and in use the individual films are arranged transversely of the holder, along the above'mentioned two opposite sides thereof, transversely of the'tank.

An advantageous feature of the holder is its simplicity. 'It may be produced inexpensively. Unlike a similar device now available, it does not employ a series of spring biased clips which mark the film and punch holes in it.

The holder is convenient to handle, and may-be arrangedin orderly fashion in the conventional tanks ordinarily provided, as above described. A distinguishing feature of the invention is that the T-shaped end portion of the holder, which in use dy'base for supporting the holder, in upside down position resting on a supporting surface, upon removing the holder from the tank.

The invention will be readily understood by referring to the following description and the accompanying drawing, in which:

' FIG. 1 is aperspective view showing a cabinet arrangement of a type which is commonly employed for developing dental X-ray film, showing the one principal tank which in use contains clear water,'and the'two smaller tanks for the developing fluid and the fixative, respectively;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a dental X-ray film holder embodying the invention, showing in broken lines portions of the cabinet arrangement shown in FIG L 1, and showing two individual films, of different sizes, arranged on the holder;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2; r

FIG. 4 is a top plan view taken on line 4-4 of FlG.-2; and

FIG. 5 shows one ofthe individual films in its detached position.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawing, the numeral 1 designates generally a cabinet arrangement of a type which is commonly employed for developing dental X-ray film, as in a dark room, the film first having been exposed.

The apparatus shown in FIG. 1 includes one principal tank, indicated by the numeral 2, which is open at' the top, and which in use contains clear water, and is cooled by refrigeration means '(not shown) below it.

Two 'relativelysmallertanks, indicated by the numerals 3, which in use contain a developing fluid and a fixative, respectively, are removably positioned in the first mentioned tank 2, adjacent opposite ends thereof.

The smaller-tanks3 are characterized by their narrow width relative to the dimensions of the individual X-ray films, and relative to their length and depth.

Referring now to FlGS. 2 to 4 of the drawing, the numeral 4 designates generally an improved dental X-ray'film holder embodying' the invention.

ln use the holder 4 is suspended in one of the smaller tanks 3, along with one or more other like holders 4, by engagement of a T-shaped'upper end portion of the holder 4, indicated by the numeral 5, with the two opposite sides of the tank 3, which it straddles.

Anynumber of like holders 4, in the rangeof from one-to five, for example,'may be arranged in the respective tanks 3, one behind the other.

A plurality of individual X-ray films, two of which areshown in FIGS. 2 and '3and indicated by-the numerals- '6,.may be arranged on each of the holders 4 ashereinafter described.

The holder 4 consists essentially of an elongated member which advantageouslymay be formed in one piece of'molded plastic material, or light-weight metal, as desired, and which as shown is H-shaped in transverse section for a major portionof its length. r

The holder 4 has a plurality of film receptacles 7 as hereinafter described, eachadapted to receive a singlefilm '6, arranged thereon. The film receptacles 7 are arrangedin-pairs,

'back'to back, along two opposite sides of the holder.

v 3 v v i f Lateral "displacement of the holder 4 relative to the tank 3 is prevented by downwardly turned abutments 8 on the outer ends of the lateral extensions which comprise the T-shaped upper end portion 5,, which are engageable with the outside of the tank 3, and by spacer elements 9 on the lower end of the holder 4 which are engageable with the inside of the tank 3.

I 'The film receptacles 7 each comprise an inwardly curved in- 'dentation, indicated by the numeral 10, which extends along one side of the holder 4 and terminates at its ends in a pair of oppositely facing angular abutments or hooks, indicated by the numerals 11. t

- The angular abutments 11 are inclined laterally outwardly in'the direction vof each other, for overlying engagement with two opposite edges of a film 6 received in the receptacle 7, in a bowed position of the film 6.

Displacement of the film 6 from the' receptacle 7 is prevented by abutting engagement of the corresponding edges of the film'6 with the angular abutments l1, and by the inherent spring tension of the film 6.

As illustrated, the holder 4 is H-shaped in transverse section fora major portion of its length, and the receptacles 7 are formed in marginal portions of two opposite sides thereof which are discontinuous, and which extend transversely of the legs of the H.

vThe lateral extensions'which comprise the T-shaped upper end portion of the holder 4 are formed on two other sides of the holder 4, which coincide with the legs of the H, so that when the holder 4 is in its operative position relative to the tank 3, with the individual films 6 in place in the receptacle 7, the films 6 are arranged on opposite sides of the holder 4,

transversely of the tank 3.

. In the arrangement described two opposite edges of the film 6 are each engaged by the receptacle 7, at the juncture of the inwardly curved indentation with one of the angular abutments 1], at two points corresponding, respectively, to com- 'paratively narrow marginal portions,'corresponding to the legs of the Hjwhich comprise one of the above mentioned two opposite sides of the holder 4.

The invention may be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

I claim: 7

1. Apparatus for developing individual dental ,X-ray films comprising, in combination with a small tank, characterized by its narrow width relative to the dimensions of the films and relative tothe length and depth of the tank, adapted to contain a body of developing fluid, or alternatively, a fixative, a holder for a plurality of individual films including an elongated member having a length approaching the depth of the tank,

and which in one of its operative positions is disposed vertically in the tank whereby the elongated member, and a plurality of films arranged thereon, are adapted to be immersed in the fluid contained in the tank, and the holder having a T- shaped upper end portion, continuous with the elongated member, extending laterally outwardly beyond two opposite sides thereof for overlying engagement with the upper edge of the tank, the elongated member being H-shaped in transverse section and having a plurality of pairs of inwardly curved indentations formed in marginal portions of two other sides thereof, coinciding with the longitudinal'edges'of the oppositely facing legs of the H, for overlying engagement, respectively, by individual films arranged transversely of the elongated member and extending laterally outwardly beyond the first mentioned sides thereof, in bowed positions of the films, the inwardly curved indentations terminating at their ends in oppositely facing hooks or abutments for opposing engagement with the adjacent outer edges of the films, whereby the films are secured against displacement from the elongated member by their inherent spring tension. 

1. Apparatus for developing individual dental X-ray films comprising, in combination with a small tank, characterized by its narrow width relative to the dimensions of the films and relative to the length and depth of the tank, adapted to contain a body of developing fluid, or alternatively, a fixative, a holder for a plurality of individual films including an elongated member having a length approaching the depth of the tank, and which in one of its operative positions is disposed vertically in the tank whereby the elongated member, and a plurality of films arranged thereon, are adapted to be immersed in the fluid contained in the tank, and the holder haVing a T-shaped upper end portion, continuous with the elongated member, extending laterally outwardly beyond two opposite sides thereof for overlying engagement with the upper edge of the tank, the elongated member being H-shaped in transverse section and having a plurality of pairs of inwardly curved indentations formed in marginal portions of two other sides thereof, coinciding with the longitudinal edges of the oppositely facing legs of the H, for overlying engagement, respectively, by individual films arranged transversely of the elongated member and extending laterally outwardly beyond the first mentioned sides thereof, in bowed positions of the films, the inwardly curved indentations terminating at their ends in oppositely facing hooks or abutments for opposing engagement with the adjacent outer edges of the films, whereby the films are secured against displacement from the elongated member by their inherent spring tension. 